Skelp-handling apparatus.



v Patented luly I6, I90l. C. MEB'CADER & C. L. WILMUT.

SKELP HANDLING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Oct. 6, 1900) (No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet l.

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lUniTTEn STATEs PATENT l hlifildo OAMILLE MERCADER, on BRADDOCK, AND CLARENCE Tl. winner, on PirTsBUne, PENNSYLVANIA.

SKEL=HANQLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFEGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,794, dated July 16, 1901. Application filed October 6,1900. Serial No. 32,231. (No model) ferred form of our apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation of the transfer apparatus, and Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the heating-furnace and transfer apparatus.

Our invention relates to the handling of skelp as it is taken from the reheating-furnace and more particularly to the drawing of the heated skelp from the furnace and passing it to the scarfing-rolls.

Heretofore in drawing the skelp from the furnace and inserting it in the scarfing-rolls difiiculty has been experienced in bringing the several strips of skelp into the proper position to pass through the snarling-rolls, and it has been proposed to move the scarfingrolls themselves to different points of the furnace-mouth in order to bring them to the proper point for theinsertion of the different pieces of skelp as they lie in the furnace; but this method involves the changing of position of the whole scarfing apparatus and is expensive and disadvantageous.

Our invention is designed to overcome the above difficulties; and it consists in providing apparatus for Withdrawing the skelp from the furnace and then transferring it sidewise to the proper point in line with the pass of the scarfing-rolls.

It further consists in providing a stop by which the skelp, which is preferably moved sidewise in parallel lines by endless carriers, is stopped in the proper place to enter the scarfing-rolls, and, further, in the construction and arrangement of the parts as hereinafter more fully described, and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, 2 represents a reheatingfurnace for the skelp having a wide exitopening 3. In front of this opening we place a pair of feed-rolls 4, the upper of which is preferably yieldingly pressed against the lower by counter-weights 5, connected to the upper-roll bearings. The lower roll is shown as positively driven by wabbler connections 6, with a set or" driving-pinions '7, which also drive the scarfing-rolls 8. The driving-pinions are thus placed between the feed-out rolls and the searfing-rolls in parallelism therewith and actuate both sets.

In front of both sets of rolls extends a table or hot bed 9, having longitudinal rails 10, which are vertically movable in parallel lines. These rails or supports are preferably carried on I-beam 11, to whichare pivotedlinks 12 and 13, secured to shafts Li and 15, respectively. The shaft 14 is provided. with a rock-arm 16, having a pivotal link connection 17 with the plunger 18 of a small motive cylinder 19. The supporting-rails may thus be raised and lowered in parallel lines.

Between the longitudinal rails and in line with the mouth of the furnace are a series of open supports 20, preferably having a series of parallel strips set edgewise and extending at right angles to the vertically-movable rails.

A portion of the rails 10 are grooved or otherwise formed to receive the longitudinal flexible wire ropes 21, which extend over end pulleys 22 and 23, the pulleys 23 being mounted on a shaft 24:, having bevel-gear connections 25 with a short shaft 26, driven by gear connections 27 from the scarfing-rolls.

A series of feed-rollers 28 lead to the scarfing-rolls and are placed between the end portions of the longitudinal table-rails, these rolls having bevel-gear connections 29 with a shaft 30, driven by a sprocket connection 31 from the shaft 24. To stop the skelp or plate in proper position on the feed-rollers,

.we provide the wide plate 32, which is secured rigidly between the feed-rollers and prefer ably forms the side plate of a skeleton sup port 33, similar to those at the other end of the table.

In the operation of the device the operator Working from the charging end of the furnace pushes any one of the pieces of skelp lying in the furnace into engagement with that portion of the feed-rolls in front of such piece. The feed-rolls thereupon move the piece out ward over the skeleton supports 20, upon which it then rests. The motor 19 then being actuated, the longitudinal rails 10 are moved up and lift the skelp from the tables, and the ropes then move it laterally along them in parallel lines until it is brought in engagement with the stop The rails are then lowered and the piece is immediately carried forward into the scarfing-rolls by the feed-rollers which are driven therefrom. In the meantime the operator pushes another strip into the feed-out rolls of the furnace. The operation thus goes on rapidly and continuously.

The advantages of our invention result from the bringing of each piece of skelp into correct position to enter the scarfing-rolls without the use of skilled labor and with great rapidity. The location of the scarfing-rolls is peculiarly advantageous, as the feed-out rolls and the scarling-rolls may thus be driven from the same connections, While the skelp is easily brought into position to enter the scarfing-rolls. The skelp is automatically stopped in the right position to enter the rolls, and the Whole operation may be carried out rapidly and at small expense.

Many variations may be made in the form and arrangement of the table and the rolls, and means other than the feeding-rolls may be employed to feed the strip from the furnace on the table Without departing from the scope of our invention.

WVe claim- 1. A skelp-heating furnace having an outlet-opening, scarfing-rolls at one side of the outlet, and a table extending transversely in front of the outlet and the scarfing-rolls, and having mechanism for carrying the skelp sidewise thereon; substantially as described.

2. A heating-furnace having an outletopening, feed-out rolls near the opening, supports in front of the feed-out rolls, a pair of scarfing-rolls at one side of the furnace-opening, and carriers arranged to move the skelp sidewise to a position in front of the searfing-rolls; substantially as described.

3. The combination with scarfing-rolls, of a feed-table extending thereto, a furnace at one side of the scarfing-rolls, a table extending transversely in front of the scarfing-rolls and furnace, and a vertically-movable carrier arranged to move the metal sidewise and take it to the feed-table; substantially as described.

4. A table having plate-supports at one end, vertically-movable carriers between the supports and extending longitudinally of the table, a feed-table at the other end of the supporting table or bed, and stops arranged to stop the metal in proper position on the feedtable; substantially as described.

5. Aheating-furnacehavinganoutlet-opening, scarfing-rolls at one side of the opening, a table extending in front of the outlet and scarfing-rolls, and having longitudinal rails or supports, and vertically-movable carriers arranged to slide the skelp sidewise along the supports; substantially as described.

6. Aheating-furnace having an outlet-opening, rolls at one side thereof, a table extending transversely in front of the furnace-opening and rolls, mechanism for carrying the metal sidewise along said table, and mechanism for stopping metal at the proper place in front of the rolls; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

OAMILLE MERCADER. CLARENCE L. WILMOT.

WVitnesses:

H. M. OORWIN, O. P. BYRNES. 

